News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-03-17
A REAL LIFE STORY.
THE DAUGHTERS OF BEN. HALLIDAY
They Marry Foreigners and Live Most
Unhappy Lives.
TErom the n. Y World-l

meuG IN neSLCneSter county, some
"reminiscences of the Comtesse de Pour
tales and the Baroness de Buissiere, the
noted Californian's two lovely daueh-
tiers, whose bodies lie in the little stone
chapel there 'The lives of both were
unhappy" said the report, $50 much
so when their mother died she stipulated
in her will that, if any of her grand
children married foreigner, the proper
ty left to him or to her should be
forfeited to the estate. Nine. de Pour
tales died in a sleeping car some ten or
twelve years ago while on her way to
New York from California. Her death
was very sudden, and many stories were
current a the time concerning it. NJ
de Pourtales was afterwards a member
of the French Legation to this country.
While here he married en- secondes noes
the di creed wife of Mr.. John Beecher,
of this city. Mrs. Beecher, it will be
RENE bered by many in New York, was
South Carolina girl, very great beau
ty. She somehow drifted to New York
shortly after the war and was met and
married by Mr.. Beecher, at that time
well-known merchant. After a fam
boyant career Mrs. Beecher left the city
and the next heard of her was the
marriage to Pourtales."
Touching the death of the first Com
tesse de Poutales-Jeanne Halliday
well-known New York lady writes to
the World:
1t was ,urteen years ago. A dull,
gloomy day of late spring, and there
fell from the leaden skies cold drizzel,
making railway platform especially
forlorn. Southern passengers going
East hal already seated themselves in
the transfer train that nuisance is
abolished now, thank heaven-and we
idly waited for the Union Pacific
express. 1t came at last. There was a
scramble for seats, the tumbling about
of luggage and all the disagreeable
confusion to which ones nerves are
never quite accustomed and finally the
sad spectacle of a woman borne IN the
arms of a stalwart servant. The wave
of sympathy always stirred b. suffering
thrilled US all, and some men instantly
relinquished their places to make a |
couch for the invalid. A veil shrouded |
the face, but through the lace meshes |
there was visible a dreadful pallor and |
the CLEAN from great dark eyes. These
eyes closed YEARLY as the porter laid |
her down and we heard a moan of pain.
A tall man, nervous in bearing, with a
dull, irresolute face, stood gazing for a
gave swift directions to a SER
want and moved away. Then we no.
ticed a little child in the arms of
French nurse sitting across the aisle.
The man servant spoke to the nurse,
took the little one, and the woman went
10 her mistress, staying beside her II
at Spoon Lake, we finally entered the
cars for Chicago.
Tbs sick woman was carried to COM
partment the nurse and valet assigned a
section, and when we had all so shaken
down in our respective places that we
could think of our neighbors we noticed
the little girl and her baby beauty-such
pretty golden hair falling in soft curls
about lovely delicate face, while pair
Of starry eyes suggested those we had
half seen through the lace veil
With the innocent courage CT baby
hood, the child soon accepted friendly
overtures, and made triumphant pro
gress from seat to seat. She seemed
puzzled whether to use French or Eng
Iish words, but we learned that her
name was MARIE" that she was 'free
years old, and that she was going to
zee her "dear gran'ma, and Louise was
Ter 6onne.n The nurse spoke no Eng
ish, but lady whose curiosity and sym
)athy were not to be restrained, ven
.ured her French. Louise answered. |
Madame was very i'll the day before at
Ogden. She had been in Oregon through
the winter and was now on her way to
Europe. A physician ON the train at
Ogden had given NJ lie Compile some
powders, and Madame had been easier
but the pain was coming back, so Mon
sieur bad given another powder, and
Madame would doubtless Sleep"
The night passed without incident.
Every one was ready for breakfast at
knowing that to be the only
back into our seats, Monsieur :.
'ushed out, exclaiming wildly, "Has
my one fan My wife Is dyingm
Quickly taking mine from the satchel
sprang to the stateroom. 1t was
sitting, and. there, smothered in rich {
ur cloak. piled with blankets, lay the
yasping, beautiful Countess. The outer ;
loor and the window were flung wide !
'pen; the lovely, heavy head was raised; !
ats, the fan and chatting were instantly :
ried but the lids only half lifted over {
he dull eyes, and the deadly slumber
vas asserting its control every second.
When questioned the Count said she o
lad complained agail of severe pain; +
hat he had given one morphine powder. o
The had demanded another only a short "
ime after and he had refused. She was u
ngry at his refusal, and while he left a
he section she must have taken another X
ose, for he could not now find the last q
'owder. She had slept quietly, and he l
vas so worn out that he did not notice y
Ter heavy breathing till we were at q
Then he had tried to awak- a
n her. He had poured brandy into Il
Ter mouth, but she did not swallow. Il
hen he had been afraid and had called /
o help, and HOh mon Dieu mon dieu I
lie mourirai' % i
We are in the habit sometimes at b
east, we were then-of speaking of 8
Western railway men as if they had little II
nowledge of delicacY or fitness, but we s
earned lesson that day.
A gentlemen whose name everywhere is
synonym for jolly good fellowship for P
joking and marvellous business D
bility, was playing cards, but now he 8,
'ok command of everything and worked u
very moment while hope remained. v
he train was stopped at Gallia, coffee Z
REQUIRED and made upon the heater, NJ
ke I've for strength, while a telegram c,
lshed to Mendoza bidding a physician q
eet US there. The Countess had been I
rought out in he open part of the car, ie
nd every effort imaginable tried to b
AIKEN her, but the deadly drug had 81
one its work too thoroughly. OF how u
orrible it was! We sat there listening a
, the loud stertorous breathing, con.
antly moistening the swelling lips aud
ceiling our helplessne 8 maddening,
lille life was drifting away with every
cart beat.
The rich, soft hair lay in tangled
lasses on the pillows; the lids showed v
leir blue-veined perfection, and the
ing dark lashes were curved as artists {
we to paint them. On the delicate Il
axen hands CLEANED splendid gems, II
nd through the parted lips the white >
ven teeth were visible, but the pity of II
! Mendoza reached, DIR. Cook came
, US, and at glance pronounced the J.
Use "hopeless. One possibility alone s.
That was tried. useIesslyl
he Count had sat moodily watching all 8
lat was going on, but saying little. u
ouise was sobbing pitifully, and baby
Iarie, with puzzled, wondering eyes,
tied back and forth, sometimes gliev-
g when "NTama" did not answer her n
II, but soon consoled by fire h petting. u
ost of the men, unable to bear the long, u
-eadful waiting, had left the car, but